Alcohol is produced by fermenting yeast, sugars, and starches. It can be found in beer, wine, and liquor and is known as ethanol, which depresses the central nervous system. A standard drink is defined as containing 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. Heavy drinking can damage organs and fetal development. Factors like gender and food intake influence individual reactions to alcohol. Over 16 million US adults and 697,000 youth have alcohol use disorders. Alcohol misuse results in substantial economic and health burdens globally and is the fifth leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide. Addiction is considered a disease, not a choice.

1. Alcohol
GRACE MENSAH

2. Brief Facts on Alcohol
What is Alcohol?
• According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse,
Alcohol can be defined as an
intoxicating ingredient that
can be found in beer, wine
and liquor. This intoxicating
ingredient is known as Ethyl
alcohol, or ethanol. Alcohol
affects the central nervous
system by depressing it. Alcohol
is then absorbed from the
stomach and small intestine into
the drinkers bloodstream.
How is it produced?
• Alcohol is produced by
fermenting yeast, sugars
and starches
What is a Standard
Drink?
• The National Institute on
Drug Abuse defines a
standard drink as 0.6
ounces of pure ethanol, or
12 ounces of beer; 8
ounces of malt liquor; 5
ounces of wine; or 1.5
ounces (a "shot") of 80-
proof distilled spirits or
liquor (e.g., gin, rum,
vodka, or whiskey).

3. Alcohol Drinking Levels
Standard Drinking
 One drink per day
Binge Drinking or
 Drinking that brings blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) levels
to 0.08 g/dL
Heavy Drinking

4. Effects of Alcohol
• Alcohol can have a damaging
effect on a persons body and
his or her organs. If a woman
is pregnant and decided to
drink, it can have damaging
effects on the developing
fetus. It can impair one’s
judgment and affects one’s
brain and motor skills. Heavy
use of alcohol can cause
certain cancers, liver damage
and stroke.
• An individual’s reaction to alcohol
is influenced by many factors
which include:
 Age.
 Gender.
 Race or ethnicity.
 Physical condition
 Amount of food consumed
before drinking.
 How quickly the alcohol was
consumed.
 Use of drugs or prescription
medicines.
 Family history of alcohol
problems.
National Institute on Drug Abuse and Center for Disease Control
and Prevention

5. MADD( Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
 On September 5, 1980, Mothers
Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) was
incorporated and the mission as
stated in its Articles of
Incorporation were “To aid the
victims of crimes performed by
individuals driving under the
influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid
the families of such victims and to
increase public awareness of the
problem of drinking and drugged
driving."

6. Statistics on Alcohol
 In 2013, 86.8 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their
lifetime; 70.7 percent reported that they drank in the past year; 56.4 percent reported that they drank in
the past month ( National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
 In 2013, 24.6 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past
month; 6.8 percent reported that they engaged in heavy drinking in the past month (National Institute On
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
 According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 35.1 percent of 15-year-olds
report that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives (National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism).
 In 2013, 59.4 percent of full-time college students ages 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month compared
with 50.6 percent of other persons of the same age(National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
 In 2013, 12.7 percent of college students ages 18–22 engaged in heavy drinking (5 or more drinks on an
occasion on 5 or more occasions per month) in the past month compared with 9.3 percent of other
persons of the same age (National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
 In 2013, of the 71,713 total liver disease deaths among individuals aged 12 and older, 46.4 percent
involved alcohol (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

7. Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) in the
United States
Adults (18+)
 16.6 million adults ages
18 and older had an
AUD in 2013. This
includes 10.8 million
men and 5.8 million
women.
Youth (12-17)
 In 2013 an estimated
697,000 adolescents
ages 12–17 had an
AUD. This number
includes 385,000
females and 311,000
males.

8. Economic Burden
 In 2006, alcohol misuse problems cost the
United States $223.5 billion
Global Burden
 In 2012, 3.3 million deaths, or 5.9 percent of
all global deaths .
 Alcohol contributes to over 200 diseases and
injury-related health conditions.
 In 2012, 5.1 percent of the burden of disease
and injury worldwide was related to alcohol
consumption.
 Globally, alcohol misuse is the fifth leading
risk factor for premature death and disability;
among people between the ages of 15 and
49.

9. Alcoholism
 Alcoholism is attributed to ones
need for alcohol. The alcoholic
becomes so dependent on alcohol it
becomes as strong as one needing
food or water.
 Once an alcoholics brain has being
changed by addiction, will power
gets thrown out the window.
 Alcohol addiction or Alcoholism is a
disease and needs to be treated as
one. It is not a choice that these
individuals make it’s a disease
Quote that jumped at
me
“People with addiction should not be
blamed for suffering from the
disease”.
CASAColumbia

10. References
1. http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol
2. http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm
3. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-
facts-and-statistics
4. https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/alcohol/facts-about-alcohol
5. http://www.madd.org/about-us/mission/
6. http://www.casacolumbia.org/addiction/disease-model-addiction